TERRIFIED residents yesterday said they couldn’t sleep because their furniture was swimming in dirty rain water.
Many people in Nelson Mandela Bay were left stranded this week after being pounded by 24 hours of rain.
When the SunTeam visited families in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, yesterday morning, residents said the rain was making their lives a misery.
However, livestock owners said they wanted it to continue. Municipal dams have almost dried up due to the drought, and many animals in the area have died.
Nontsikelelo Mbande (56) said because of the heavy rain, water was coming in under her doors.
“It flowed from the street into our house, creating a muddy river in our kitchen, lounge and bedrooms. We have to scoop up the water with spades.”
But cattle owner Velakhe Fortuin (57) said the rain made him happy.
“I have lost 10 cows because of the drought. I’m happy the rain has finally come after two years of drought. ”
South African Weather Service spokesman Gareth Sampson said more rain was expected in the Eastern Cape. He said there had been 18mm of rain at Port Elizabeth Airport, 25mm at Riverstone Bridge, 11mm in Lovemore Heights and 12mm in Chatty.
Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said the municipality had decided to leave the dip area in Third Avenue, Newton Park, closed, as rain was predicted for the rest of the day.